Former Ghana and Senegal coach, Claude Le Roy, has revealed details of a crucial conversation he had with Sadio Mane during Senegal’s dramatic Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final victory over Morocco on Sunday.
Naija News reports that Le Roy spoke moments after Senegalese players walked off the pitch in protest against a controversial penalty awarded to Morocco, a decision that sparked tension at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
The drama unfolded shortly after referee Jacques Ndala disallowed a goal scored by the Teranga Lions, before awarding Morocco a penalty that infuriated the Senegalese camp.
Following the decision, Senegal’s players briefly abandoned the field in protest, raising fears that the match could be abandoned at a critical stage.
Speaking to Canal Plus, Le Roy said Mane approached him while the rest of the Senegal team had left the pitch, seeking advice on how to handle the situation.
“When the Senegalese team left the pitch, Sadio Mane was alone on the field and he came to me and asked me what I’d do if I were in his place.
“I answered, I would’ve continued playing. I explained to him that the result wasn’t yet decided,”Le Roy recounted.
Le Roy said Mane immediately took the advice on board.
“Then he went to bring his teammates back onto the field,” the veteran coach disclosed.
Naija News recalls that Senegal eventually returned to the pitch and maintained their composure, going on to secure a hard-fought 1-0 victory.
The winning goal was scored by Pape Gueye in first-half extra time, sealing the AFCON title for the Teranga Lions despite the intense controversy surrounding the officiating.
The victory marked another historic moment for Senegal, which overcame both on-field pressure and emotional tension to lift the coveted continental trophy.
